Wire-tightener



No. 609,405. Patented Aug. 23, I898.

L. BICKEL.

wins TIGHTENER.

(Application filed Jan. 31., 1898.)

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LOUIS BIOKEL, OF AKRON, OHIO.

WIRE-TIGHTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,405, dated August 23, 1898. Application filed January 31, 1893- Serial No. 668,556. (No model.)

To all whom it mag concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS BICKEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Wire-Tighteners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation toimprovements in devices for taking up the slack of and tightening fence and other wire, and is an improvement on the device for which I was granted United States Letters Patent No. 547,760 on the 15th day of October, 1895.

The object of my invention is to provide a secure and cheap tightener that may be readily applied to the wire between posts and dispense with a sliding or movable holder, thereby reducing the number of parts and simplifying the construction.

To the aforesaid objects my invention consists in the peculiar and novel construction, combination and arrangements of parts hereinafter described, and then specifically pointed out in the claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, constituting a part of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different views, Figure 1 isa perspective view of my improved wire-tightener; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the same with the winding-fork removed, and Fig. 3 a detached view of the winding-fork. 1

Referring to the figures, 1 is the frame, which consists of an elongated link having apertures 2 3 on opposite sides and in alinement with each other to receive the winding fork. This link is enlarged about the apertures 2 3 to afford strength at these points and has at each end notches to serve as guides for the wire. The apertures 2 and 3 have each a notch 6 at one side, as shown in connection with aperture 3 in Fig. '2, to permit the passage of a lug on one arm of the fork.

Integral with the link 1 and on opposite sidesof the aperture 3 are Wedgeshapedlugs 7 8, which"gradually extend from the sides of the link and terminate at the aperture 3 in oppositely-disposed beveled faces.

The winding-fork consists of a head 9, having a flattened portion perforated to receive a winding-pin and terminating in an abrupt shoulder to rest against the outside of the frame, and two similarly-constructed arms 10 11, the former of which bears a lug 12, adapted to pass the notch 6 and arranged to engage the face of either of the lugs 7 8. These arms 10 11 fit loosely in the aperture 3, and the arms are sufficiently elastic to permit of their springinglightly inward toward each other.

In operation the frame is placed on the wire, with the latter resting in the notches at each end. The fork is then inserted, receiving the wire between the arms 10 11, and turned up with a pin or wrench until the Wire is sufficiently tight and then released, its return being prevented by the lug 12 encountering one of the lugs 7 8. It is released. by pressing the arms together, when it can be unwound andremoved.

Iclaiin as my invention-- An improved wire-tightener consisting of a link having oppositely-disposed apertures,

and lugs adjacent to and on opposite sides of one of said apertures, in combination witha winding-fork having substantially similar arms, one whereof bears a lug arranged to engage either of said lugs, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the above Ihereunto set my hand.

LOUIS" BICKEL.

In presence of G. P. HUMPHLREY, O. HUMPHREY. 

